This document provides an overview of Xcel Energy Inc., a major US electric and gas utility. It discusses Xcel's low-risk business strategy of investing in regulated utility assets to earn its authorized return on equity. Key details include Xcel's operating regions and subsidiaries, earnings growth drivers, capital expenditure plans, regulatory initiatives, and assumptions for 2005 earnings guidance. The presentation is aimed at investors to promote Xcel as a stable, low-risk investment.

1. Xcel Energy Inc.
Midwest Investor Meetings 800 Nicollet Mall
May 31 – June 1, 2005 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
www.xcelenergy.com

2. Safe Harbor
This material includes forward-looking statements that are subject to certain
risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements
include projected earnings, cash flows, capital expenditures and other
statements and are identified in this document by the words “anticipate,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “projected,” “objective,” “outlook,” “possible,”
“potential” and similar expressions. Actual results may vary materially.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are
not limited to: general economic conditions, including the availability of
credit, actions of rating agencies and their impact on capital expenditures;
business conditions in the energy industry; competitive factors; unusual
weather; effects of geopolitical events, including war and acts of terrorism;
changes in federal or state legislation; regulation; final approval and
implementation of the pending settlement of the securities, ERISA and
derivative litigation; costs and other effects of legal administrative
proceedings, settlements, investigations and claims; actions of accounting
regulatory bodies; risks associated with the California power market; the
higher degree of risk associated with Xcel Energy’s nonregulated businesses
compared with Xcel Energy’s regulated business; and other risk factors
listed from time to time by Xcel Energy in reports filed with the SEC,
including Exhibit 99.01 to Xcel Energy’s report on Form 10-K for year 2004.

3. Low-Risk Strategy
Invest in utility assets
AND
Earn our allowed return on equity
Total return objective: 7 to 9% per year
Dividend yield 5%
Earnings growth 2 to 4%
Nearly 100% of income from regulated operations

4. Drivers to Value Creation
Earn Authorized
Return
Increase
Equity
Increase
Investment
Service
Territory Growth

5. Northern States
Power Company-
Minnesota
Northern States
Power Company-
Public Service Wisconsin
Company of
Colorado
Strong Regional
Economy
Unemployment rate —
Southwestern February 2005
Public Service
US 5.8%
Xcel service area 4.7%
Job growth – 2005 Forecast
Xcel service area 2.4%
4th largest US electric
and gas utility — Xcel Annual sales growth —
Customers: 2005-2009
Electric 2.0%
3.3 Million Electric
Gas 1.2%
1.8 Million Gas

6. Retail Electric Rate * Comparison
* EEI typical bills – Summer 2004
Cents per KWh
18
16
14
12
10
8
6.01 6.06
6 4.87
4
2
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7. Net Income Growth Potential
Annual
2005 – 2009 Growth
2004 Potential Rate
Rate Base $10.5 B $12.5 B 3 to 3.5%
Utility Equity
Capitalization 49% 52% 0 to 1.2%
Earned Return on
Utility Rate Base Equity 9.9% 11.5% 0 to 3.9%

8. Capital Expenditure Forecast
Dollars in Millions
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Minnesota MERP $ 191 $ 404 $ 197 $ 125 $ 56
Comanche 3 59 179 287 298 125
Base Level Capital
Expenditures 991 917 1,021 929 1,085
Total $1,241 $1,500 $1,505 $1,352 $1,266

9. Minnesota MERP — Potential Earnings
Dollars in Millions
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Capital Expenditures
Current Year $191 $404 $197 $125 $56
Cumulative $238 $642 $839 $964 $1,020
Equity Ratio 48.5% 48.5% 48.5% 48.5% 48.5%
Return on Equity 10.86% 10.86% 10.86% 10.86% 10.86%
Equity Return $8 $24 $40 $48 $53

10. Comanche 3 — Potential Earnings
Dollars in Millions
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Capital Expenditures
Current Year $59 $179 $287 $298 $125
Cumulative $62 $241 $528 $826 $951
Equity Ratio 56% 56% 56% 56% 56%
Return on Equity 10.75% 10.75% 10.75% 10.75% 10.75%
Equity Return $2 $9 $23 $41 $54

11. Strengthen Balance Sheet
with Increased Equity
Net Income
Sensitivity
100 Basis Point
Change in
Dec 31, 2004 Target
Equity Ratio
Equity Equity
Millions
Company Ratio Ratio
NSPM 50% 49 to 51% $3
NSPW 56 54 to 56 1
SPS 48 48 to 50 2
PSCo 48 55 to 56 4
Xcel Energy
Consolidated 42 44 to 46

12. Earn Return Authorized by Regulators
Net Income
Sensitivity
2004 100 Basis Point
Rate Base Change in ROE **
Billions * Millions
Colorado $4.0 $20
Minnesota 3.4 17
Texas 0.9 4
Wisconsin 0.6 3
* State regulatory jurisdiction
** Assuming 50% common equity

13. Regulatory Initiatives
2005 WI Electric MN
CO ND WI Electric MN MN, ND &
& Gas Resource
FERC Gas Gas & Gas Gas SD Electric
Case Case Plan
Transmission Case Case Case Case
Decision Decision
Case Decision Filed Decision Filed Decision Filed
June December Year-end
May May June July Winter
MN, ND &
2006 WI Electric SD Electric CO
MERP Rider & Gas Interim Gas Case CO Electric TX Electric MN, ND & SD
Rates Rates Rates Rates Case Case Electric Case
In Effect In Effect In Effect In Effect Filed Filed Decision
January January January January Spring Summer Fall
2007
Case Decision
Rates In Effect
CO Electric TX Electric
Case Filed
Rates In Effect Rates in Effect
January Summer

14. 2004 Earnings and 2005 Guidance
Dollars per Share 2005
2004 Guidance
Regulated utility
continuing operations $1.32 $1.27 – 1.37
Holding Company
finance costs (0.08) (0.11)
Other nonregulated
& Holding Company 0.03 0.02
Total earnings from
continuing operations $1.27 $1.18 – 1.28
Discontinued operations (0.40)
Total Earnings per Share diluted $0.87

15. Dividend
Annual dividend increased by 3 cents May 2005
Current annual dividend rate of 86 cents
Annual dividend increases
consistent with long-term
earnings growth

16. Low-Risk Business Plan
No competitive threats
Constructive regulation
Executable strategy
Identify and manage risks
Solid balance sheet
Total return objective of 7 to 9% per year

17. Appendix

18. Organizational Structure
2004 Results
Income from Continuing
Xcel Energy Inc. Operations (Dollars in Millions)
$527
Holding
Company
$(43)
Northern Northern Subsidiaries
Southwestern
Public
States States Eloigne
Public
Service
Power Power Quixx
Service
Company of
Company - Company -
Company
Colorado
Minnesota Wisconsin
$230 $54 $218 $55 $13
Nonregulated
Regulated

19. Senior Debt Ratings
Moody’s S&P
Secured Unsecured Secured Unsecured
Holding Co. -- Baa1 -- BBB-
NSPM A2 A3 A- BBB-
NSPW A2 A3 A- BBB
PSCo A3 Baa1 A- BBB-
SPS -- Baa1 -- BBB
Outlook Stable Stable

20. Northern States Power — Minnesota
2004 Electric 2004 Gas
Avg. Retail % of Xcel Energy Avg. Retail % of Xcel Energy
Customers Retail Customers Customers Retail Customers
1,340,000 41.0% 447,500 25.7%
ROE Allowed (Electric) 11.47% North Dakota Minnesota
ROE on Average GAAP Equity 12.1%
GAAP % Equity in Capital Structure 49.7% Minneapolis/
St. Paul
Senior Unsecured Credit Rating A3/BBB-
Electric/Gas Net Income Mix 90%/10%
Net Income (Millions) $230
South Dakota

21. Northern States Power — Wisconsin
2004 Electric 2004 Gas
Avg. Retail % of Xcel Energy Avg. Retail % of Xcel Energy
Customers Retail Customers Customers Retail Customers
240,035 7.3% 97,463 5.5%
Michigan
ROE Allowed (Electric & Gas) 11.9%
ROE on Average GAAP Equity 12.7%
GAAP % Equity in Capital Structure 55.4%
Senior Unsecured Credit Rating A3/BBB
Electric/Gas Net Income Mix 95%/5%
Net Income (Millions) $54
Wisconsin

22. Public Service Company of Colorado
2004 Electric 2004 Gas
Avg. Retail % of Xcel Energy Avg. Retail % of Xcel Energy
Customers Retail Customers Customers Retail Customers
1,293,000 39.6% 1,197,000 68.8%
Colorado
ROE Allowed (Electric) 10.75%
ROE on Average GAAP Equity 9.9%
GAAP % Equity in Capital Structure 47.7%
Senior Unsecured Credit Rating Baa1/BBB-
Electric/Gas Net Income Mix 72%/28%
Net Income (Millions) $218

23. Southwestern Public Service
2004 Electric
Avg. Retail % of Xcel Energy
Customers Retail Customers
395,000 12.1%
ROE Allowed (Electric – Texas) 11.5% Kansas
ROE on Average GAPP Equity 6.9% New Mexico
% Equity in Capital Structure 47.5%
Oklahoma
Senior Unsecured Credit Rating Baa1/BBB
Electric Net Income 100%
Net Income (Millions) $55
Texas

24. Energy Supply Mix — 2004
Owned and Purchased
Fuel Mix Purchased
Energy
Gas
Nuclear Other
Gas 21%
12% 11%
27%
Renewable
7%
Owned
Coal *
Generation
54%
68%
* Low-sulfur, low-mercury western coal

25. Coal Supply Contracted
Coal
Coal Transportation
2005 99% 100%
2006 78 75
2007 65 45
2008 46 45
Annual consumption: 32 Million tons of low-sulfur,
low-mercury western coal

26. Electric Fuel and Purchased Energy
Cost Recovery Mechanisms
Minnesota: Monthly recovery of prospective costs
Colorado: Recovery of costs with sharing of
deviations up to + $11.25 million
from benchmark
Texas: File for semi-annual adjustments –
required if + 4% annually
Wisconsin: Biennial rate case – file for interim
adjustment if costs fall outside + 2%
annually
New Mexico: Recovery of costs with 2 month lag

27. Key Assumptions for
2005 Earnings Guidance
Seren is held for sale and accounted for as discontinued operations
Normal weather patterns are experienced for 2005
Weather-adjusted retail electric sales growth of 1.6 to 2.0%
Weather-adjusted retail natural gas sales growth of 1.0 to 1.3%
A successful outcome in the NSP-Minnesota gas rate case
A successful outcome in the FERC rate case
Capacity costs are projected to increase by $15 million, net of recovery
No additional margin impact associated with the fuel allocation
issue at SPS
2005 trading and short-term wholesale margins are projected to
decline from 2004 levels by approximately $30 million to $55 million

28. Key Assumptions for
2005 Earnings Guidance (Continued)
2005 utility other operating and maintenance expense is expected
to increase between 2 to 3% compared with 2004 levels
2005 depreciation expense is projected to increase approximately
7 to 8% compared with 2004
2005 interest expense is projected to increase approximately
$10 million to $15 million compared with 2004 levels
Allowance for funds used during construction-equity is projected
to be relatively flat compared with 2004
Xcel Energy continues to recognize COLI tax benefits of 9 cents
per share in 2005
The effective tax rate for continuing operations is expected to be
approximately 27 to 30% percent
Average common stock and equivalents of approximately 426 million
shares in 2005, based on the “If Converted” method for convertible notes

29. Minnesota Metro Emissions
Reduction Program (MERP)
Convert two in-city coal plants to natural gas &
refurbish a third in-city coal plant
Improves environment
SO2 NOx Mercury Particulate CO2
93% 91% 78% 55% 21%
Cash return on investment
begins January 2006
Target ROE 10.86% with
incentive sliding scale
9.97 to 11.46%
Equity ratio 48.5%

30. Colorado — Comanche 3
Construction expenditures up to a formula-based
cap are deemed prudent
PSCo equity ratio up to 60% deemed reasonable
for 2006 rate case proceeding
Capital expenditures to be included in rate
recovery prior to project completion, depending
on credit rating
Net emissions of SO2 and NOx for Comanche
Units 1, 2, & 3 will not exceed current emissions